Conversations with Yuliia Bahinska

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuliia Bahinska.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m of Korean descent. I was born in Uzbekistan, but I grew up in Ukraine from the age of five, so my background is very multicultural. My native languages are Russian and Ukrainian.

Now, briefly about my hairdressing journey — it started in 2016 when I met my future husband. He, along with the company he worked for, inspired me to pursue hairdressing. I began studying at the Erteqoob Academy in Kyiv, where he worked as an educator and stylist.

The education there had some similarities with Vidal Sassoon philosophy, so I received a good technical foundation. Back then, I already knew about Vidal Sassoon company and dreamed of studying at one of their academies someday.

At the end of 2020, we became salon owners in the center of Kyiv. It was an exciting and challenging experience, especially during COVID.

Then, in February 2022, the war in Ukraine began. At the time, I was also pregnant, which made that period especially emotional and uncertain.

In December 2022, we decided to move to a safer place, as it was hard to raise a child under war conditions. Our son was 7 months old at the time.
So we moved to sunny Los Angeles.

From 2023 until the fall of 2024, I focused only on raising my son. When I felt ready to return to haircutting, I reached out to Sassoon without expecting much — and after three interviews, I joined the team in December 2024.

I started as an assistant, as everyone does here regardless of experience, but fortunately my assisting period was relatively short. I became a stylist after eight months, and since January I’ve also started teaching a little, which has been very exciting for me.

I’m building my career at one of the leading companies in the hairdressing world — a company that has been shaping hair education for over 70 years.
My experience here has been amazing. I love what I do, I love the people around me, and I’m grateful to be part of a team that represents such a high standard in our industry.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — challenges have been present at every stage.

On a global level, I went through some major life changes all at once: the war in my home country, becoming a mother, and forced immigration. Each of these experiences on its own is significant, and together they reshaped both my life and my priorities.

At the same time, building my career as a stylist at Vidal Sassoon came with its own challenges.

One of the biggest was the language barrier. Even though I arrived in the U.S. with a decent level of English, working in a fast-paced, professional environment is completely different. There were quite many moments when I felt stressed or uncertain — when I couldn’t fully understand colleagues or clients or was unable to express myself the way I want.

But I see it as part of the growth process. I’m still improving every day, and I’ve become much more confident over time.

Of course, there are other struggles that come with starting over in a new country — but I prefer to focus on the opportunities rather than the difficulties.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m specializing in haircuts.
I love learning and refining my skills. I believe there are no limits to perfection — if you think you know everything, it’s probably time to take another class.

When it comes to hair, I love precise and systematic Sassoon approach to haircutting. At the same time, I love when hair feels natural and touchable. I usually present my works with movement — textured, alive hair.

What am I proud of?
I’m proud of my career within Vidal Sassoon — a company that has led hair education for over 70 years. It’s rewarding to work alongside people who are among the best in the industry.

Recently, even without prior teaching experience, I was chosen as one of the educators for a major Sassoon Connect event. A group of nine Sassoon educators from around the world taught 70 Aveda educators the principles of Sassoon haircutting — and I was one of them. I’m very proud of that.

In general, I’m proud of not giving up after all obstacles in my life. I try to embrace every opportunity that comes my way. And I’m constantly stepping out of my comfort zone.

What matters most to you?
I’m a family-oriented person.
Family matters most to me because those are the people who stay with you through both the good and the difficult times.
When life at home feels balanced and healthy, it positively affects every other area of my life, including work.
I’m always trying to find a healthy balance between all aspects of my life.

Pricing:

• haircuts – 130$

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @yuliia.bahinska

Image Credits
Vitalina Khatkova
Elena Onegina
Alena Kharitonova